Wales has slumped to ninth in the UK inward investment league for 2005 after topping the list the previous year.

The number of new jobs created in Wales by overseas investors fell 36% over the 2004-2005 period, while the UK total rose 31% to a new record level.

Last year, inward investment created 2,593 jobs in Wales, according to the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Welsh Development Agency (WDA) said the figures reflected the lack of any large individual project.

Between 2004 and 2005, jobs created by overseas investment in Wales accounted for 6.6% of the UK total.

In the 2003-2004 period, Wales accounted for 16% of the UK total, creating 4,064 jobs.

Performance

In slipping to ninth place in the league, Wales is only trailed in terms of investment from overseas by the East Midlands, the south west of England and the east of England.

INWARD INVESTMENT JOBS 2004-05

South East 5,379

North West 5,376

Scotland 4,340

West Midlands 4,083

London 3,955

North East 3,947

Northern Ireland 2,627

Yorkshire & Humber 2,599

Wales 2,593

East Midlands 1,794

East England 1,648

South West 1,251

Total: 39,592. Source: DTI

First place has now been taken by the south east of England, followed by the north west and then Scotland.

The WDA said other parts of the UK were important sources of investment for Wales, and it had been performing well in that area.

Of the 94 investment projects recorded by a WDA team in Wales in the last financial year, 40 had come from other parts of the UK, the agency said in a statement.

As well as the lack of large individual projects affecting Wales' foreign investment performance between 2004 and 2005, competitiveness in the investment market had also contributed to the drop, according to the WDA.

The WDA added: "We believe that the searching review we have undertaken of our own efforts will enable us to enhance our own performance and our share of the inward investment market in future."